PLANS for a business park have been significantly altered to protect water voles.

Quorum Development Partners LLP, which is building an office development at Balliol Business Park East, in Longbenton, on Tyneside, wants to make sure that a waterway inhabited by the voles is not disturbed.

Quorum commissioned consultant landscape architects Wardell Armstrong and ecologist Tony Martin to work with North Tyneside Council's biodiversity officer, English Nature, the Environment Agency and Northumberland Wildlife Trust to plan a strategy.

Now, a road planned for the 48-acre office development has been re-routed and two bridges, one for pedestrians and one for cars, have been built over the waterway.

Wardell Armstrong has also worked with Quorum to provide landscaping works including planting willow hedges, grassed areas, wildflowers and wetland plants to encourage the voles.

Published: 21/09/2004